Ant Control Doncaster
The most common species of ant that we are asked to deal with at Kestrel Pest Management is the black ant (Lasius niger) | Ant Control Doncaster.
They are common in gardens and around buildings, where they make their nests in sandy areas. Therefore all types of paving surrounding our homes and businesses offer ideal nest sites to black ants.Black ants belong to the same order of insects as wasps and bees (Hymenoptera) and just like many wasps and bees, they are social insects that live in colonies. The colony is comprised of one queen and a multitude of sterile worker ants. The worker ants construct and maintain the nest, tend the eggs and larva, forage for food and provide defence.
The workers are the ant equivalent of Ray Mears or Bear Grylls in that they are expert foragers. They seek out sugary foods and insects which they take back to the nest. When a good food source is found they will lay down scent trails that will allow other ants to find the food. This effective system is why infestations can happen overnight. Small spillages and stored food are appealing to ants and they will readily take advantage of the treats they find in our homes and businesses. An interesting fact about black ants is that they have 2 stomachs. One personal stomach to sustain themselves and a social stomach that is used to gather food for the colony.
After several years the ant colony can contain up to 15000 workers. It is at this stage that the queen will produce the winged males(drones) and winged females(new queens). This stage of the life cycle can cause problems as these winged reproductives are released from the nest en masse, with thousands of ants taking flight at the same time. This swarming can be very troublesome to households, beer gardens restaurants etc. as the areas adjacent to the nest become inundated with flying ants. The males and females will mate during this flight, which is usually snychronised with many nests in the local area. This spectacle is witnessed on a hot Summer’s day between June and September. The newly mated queens will then seek out a nest site to start the whole cycle again.
We use a number of strategies to control ants depending on the location of the nest and the stage of the life cycle. At Kestrel Pest Management we provide an ant control service that will ensure your home and business remain ant free.
